Entrust launches Australia-ready identity checks for AML

Entrust has introduced an Australia-ready identity verification workflow that integrates the government's Document Verification Service, targeting organisations covered by Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.

The update comes as Australia extends AML/CFT obligations to more sectors, including real estate, legal services and account services, increasing the need for stronger customer identity checks.

Built into Entrust Studio, the workflow combines DVS checks, biometric verification and AI-based fraud controls. It is designed to help organisations verify customers during digital onboarding and customer due diligence.

Australia's Tranche 2 reforms represent the broadest expansion of the country's AML/CFT regime in almost 20 years. They bring new reporting entities into scope and raise the bar for identity verification, requiring businesses to demonstrate stronger checks on who their customers are.

For sectors that have not previously faced the same level of AML/CFT scrutiny, the reforms shift identity checks from an administrative step to a core compliance task. Businesses must meet that requirement without making onboarding unworkable for customers or staff.

What is included

Entrust says the new workflow validates passports, driving licences and visas through Australia's DVS. It also combines document checks with biometric verification and data from other trusted sources.

The system uses risk signals to flag inconsistencies during onboarding. Those signals can help identify suspected fraud, including deepfakes and synthetic identities, before an account is opened or a customer relationship is established.

The update also includes risk-based workflows that let organisations automate some verification steps, reduce manual reviews and apply different levels of assurance depending on the customer and stage of the relationship.

The approach reflects a broader trend in regulated industries, where firms are moving away from one-size-fits-all checks. Instead, they are tailoring due diligence to risk while maintaining an audit trail that can satisfy regulators.

Compliance pressure

The expanded AML/CFT regime is expected to affect industries that handle high-value transactions or provide services that can be used to move or conceal funds. Real estate agents, lawyers and accountants have long featured in policy discussions around Tranche 2, as regulators and lawmakers seek to close gaps in the compliance framework.

As these sectors prepare for tighter obligations, identity verification technology providers are aligning their tools with local data sources and official records. In Australia, access to the DVS is a key part of that process because it enables checks against government-held identity document records.

Entrust also offers optional ongoing monitoring to support customer due diligence over time. That matters for AML/CFT compliance because obligations do not end at onboarding and may require firms to review customer activity and records throughout an ongoing business relationship.

Entrust says it has an established customer base in Australia and supports customers in more than 150 countries. That international footprint may appeal to businesses seeking a single verification process across several jurisdictions while still meeting local compliance rules.

Harvinder Singh, regional vice-president of identity security solutions at Entrust, said the reforms were forcing organisations to rethink how they establish trust at the start of customer relationships.

"Regulatory reform on this scale requires organisations to rethink how trust is established from the very first interaction," Singh said.

"By treating identity verification as the first moment of truth in onboarding, organisations can prevent fraud early and protect the digital experiences customers rely on. As a trusted identity verification provider, we support both local and global businesses with compliance, helping them meet regulatory requirements while streamlining onboarding and enabling secure, seamless digital journeys."